This assembly report was prepared by Charles Austin, Elizabeth Hunter, Daniel J. Lehmann and Julie B. Sevig. Photography by Julie Fletcher.


ELCA ‘mad W


Dramatic elections, campaign highlight Pittsburgh gathering


hat looked to be a routine Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh, Aug. 12-17, turned out to be anything but with the election of the ELCA’s first female presiding bishop and adoption of a national


fundraising campaign. Not to be outdone, election of the denomination’s secretary went to a fifth ballot—the maximum—as did the presiding bishop election. Further, the assembly adopted a social statement on criminal justice with just two


20 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


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